WWW Wednesday #65 – 4th January 2017

Why not join in? Just answer the following three questions in a post and then put a link to that post in the Comments over at Taking on a World of Words.

The questions are:

What are you currently reading?

What did you recently finish reading?

What do you think you’ll read next?

All images link back to their respective Goodreads page.

It’s been at least 2 weeks since I last posted a WWW Wednesday post so naturally I’ve got a bit of a longer list of read and currently reading. I’ve also set my 2017 challenge to 120 books!

What am I currently reading?

Goodreads Synopsis: It is the 147th century.

In the radically advanced post-human worlds of the Amaranthine Firmament, there is a contender to the Immortal throne: Aaron the Long-Life, the Pretender, a man who is not quite a man.

In the barbarous hominid kingdoms of the Prism Investiture, where life is short, cheap, and dangerous, an invention is born that will become the Firmament’s most closely kept secret.

Lycaste, a lovesick reclusive outcast for an unspeakable crime, must journey through the Provinces, braving the grotesques of an ancient, decadent world to find his salvation.

Sotiris, grieving the loss of his sister and awaiting the madness of old age, must relive his twelve thousand years of life to stop the man determined to become Emperor.

Ghaldezuel, knight of the stars, must plunder the rarest treasure in the Firmament—the object the Pretender will stop at nothing to obtain.

From medieval Prague to a lonely Mediterranean cove, and eventually far into the strange vastness of distant worlds, The Promise of the Child is a debut novel of gripping action and astounding ambition unfolding over hundreds of thousands of years, marking the arrival of a brilliant new talent in science fiction.

Current Completion: Page 85 of 484

∞

Goodreads synopsis:Jim Butcher, the number one bestselling author of the Dresden Files, begins a new series set in a gloriously imagined world of noble families, marvellous technology and magic-wielding warriors.

Since time immemorial, humanity has lived inside the Spires, habitats towering for miles over the dangerous, monster-infested surface of the world. Captain Grimm of the merchant airship Predator was dismissed from Spire Albion’s military in disgrace – now his ship and crew are all he has, and he’s fiercely loyal to both. When the Predator is severely damaged in combat, Grimm is offered a choice – take on a clandestine mission for Albion’s leaders, or stay grounded for good.

And even as Grimm undertakes this perilous task, he will learn that the conflict between the Spires is merely a premonition of things to come. Humanity’s ancient enemy, silent for more than ten thousand years, has begun to stir once more. And death will follow in its wake…

Current completion: Page 506 of 630

∞

Goodreads Synopsis:A violent, fast-paced and compelling debut fantasy novel, in a world where heroes and monsters are not quite as they seem…

This is a world dominated by The Wild.

Man lives in pockets of civilisation claimed from The Wild. Within men’s walls life is civilised, the peace punctuated by tournaments, politicking, courtly love and canny business. Beyond those walls men are prey – vulnerable to the exceptionally powerful and dangerous creatures which populate the land and even more vulnerable to those creatures schemes.

So when one of those creatures breaks out of The Wild and begins preying on people in their homes, it takes a specialist to hunt it down or drive it out…and even then, it’s a long, difficult and extremely dangerous job.

The Black Captain and his men are one such group of specialists. They have no idea what they’re about to face…

Forget George and the Dragon. Forget Sir Lancelot and tales of Knightly exploits. This is dirty, bloody work. This is violent, visceral action. This is a mercenary knight as you’ve never seen one before.

Current completion: 41 of 784

∞

Goodreads synopsis: To reach greatness you must step on bodies. I’ll win this game of ours, though the cost of it may drown the world in blood…

A six nation army marches toward Jorg’s gates, led by a shining hero determined to unite the empire and heal its wounds. Every omen says he will. Every good king knows to bend the knee in the face of overwhelming odds, if only to save their people and their lands. But King Jorg is not a good king.

Faced by an enemy many times his strength, Jorg knows that he cannot win a fair fight. But playing fair was never part of Jorg’s game plan…

Current completion: 108 of 597

What did I recently finish reading?

Goodreads Synopsis:

Poison never lies.

Talia was once one of the twelve martyrs of the forgotten compass, a prisoner of the unhuman creatures known only as the vordcha. She barely escaped that life with her body and soul intact.

Now she has a new life as a poison eater in the city of Enthait. Here she is hailed as one of the city’s protectors. No one knows her history. No one has asked about her past. She’s been here long enough that
Enthait is her home now, these are her people. She loves them and they her.

But in the Ninth World, the past is a living, breathing thing. And when it hunts you down, you can run.

You can fight. Or you can die.

My verdict:★★

∞

Goodreads Synopsis:

Betrayed by those she trusted, penniless and alone, Darcie Finch is forced to accept a position that no one else dares, as assistant to dangerously attractive Dr. Damien Cole. Ignoring the whispered warnings and rumours that he’s a man to fear, she takes her position at his eerie estate, where she quickly discovers that nothing is at it seems, least of all her handsome and brooding employer. As Darcie struggles with her fierce attraction to Damien, she must also deal with the blood, the disappearances … and the murders.

With her options dwindling and time running out, Darcie must rely on her instincts as she confronts the man she falling in love with. Is he an innocent and misunderstood man … or a remorseless killer who prowls the East End streets?

Note: All books in the Dark Gothic series can be read as stand-alone novels.

∞

Goodreads Synopsis:

Lily St. Claire is a southern girl, born and raised, and she has a soft spot in her heart for Baton Rouge. But when she returns after being out of town for a few years, she finds that things have changed. Katrina rearranged the city’s face, there are more people, the streets are meaner, and most importantly, the boy she had a crush on her entire childhood is all grown up. In a big, bad way.

Daniel Kane is the youngest police chief Baton Rouge has ever known. Standing well over two meters high, with a hard body, jet black hair that needs a cut, eyes like blue slate, and a quick mind, not much gets past him. But what could hold more sway than a handsome, young, competent chief of police? A handsome, young, competent chief of police who also happens to be a werewolf. And not just any werewolf, but an alpha.

Yet, all that power doesn’t seem to mean a damn thing when it comes to claiming the one thing he wants more than anything on Earth – the girl who, as far as he is concerned, was meant for him: Lily St. Claire. Not only is Lily head-strong, independent, and more than a little capable of slipping through his tightly gripped fingers, it turns out, Daniel’s not the only one who’s ready to claim her as his mate. And as bad luck would have it for Chief Kane, his competition is also an alpha werewolf.

And a notorious cold-blooded killer.

The Heat is the first book in the New York Times and USA Today bestselling Big Bad Wolf series by Heather Killough-Walden. Dig in and see why this series continues to receive world-wide acclaim, capturing the hearts and minds of thousands of paranormal romance fans around the globe. Also look for The Kings series, the bestselling paranormal romance spin-off series to the Big Bad Wolf.

My verdict:★★★

∞

Goodreads synopsis: AN EPIC INTERSTELLAR TALE OF WAR FROM A MASTER OF SCIENCE FICTION.

One more tour on the red. Maybe my last.

They made their presence on Earth known thirteen years ago.

Providing technology and scientific insights far beyond what mankind was capable of. They became indispensable advisors and promised even more gifts that we just couldn’t pass up. We called them Gurus.

It took them a while to drop the other shoe. You can see why, looking back.

It was a very big shoe, completely slathered in crap.

They had been hounded by mortal enemies from sun to sun, planet to planet, and were now stretched thin — and they needed our help.

And so our first bill came due. Skyrines like me were volunteered to pay the price. As always.

These enemies were already inside our solar system and were moving to establish a beachhead, but not on Earth.

∞

I can still feel the magic sometimes, lingering like an old friend. It was everywhere, and its flame burned bright inside everyone. We are born from it, made of it – of light and fire.

For as long as he can remember, Elijah and the Brotherhood of The Sicarri have been at war against the Demons – the ones who have been twisted and burned by their greed for the flame of magic. After Elijah gets a troubling phone call from a fellow Sicarri brother, he must leave his wife and son behind to save his friend. When things don’t go as planned, his world is sent into chaos.

In the midst of death and destruction, Elijah must try to salvage the relationships he has with those closest to him while navigating the treacherous waters of love and betrayal. Can he exact his revenge on those who tore apart his old life? And will he be able to control his own fire raging within?

What do I think I’ll read next?

I’ve been saying I’ll read Magic Shifts for the past like month and I haven’t even picked it up. I’ve got so many books that I need to read, multiple ARCs as well as the books I want to read for review purposes that are not ARCs (because yes I have this all planned out in advance) but I’d like to say I’ll at least read one book that I won’t review.